Ollie Gordon II Returns After Ankle Scare in Dolphins-Steelers Clash
There was a moment of concern for Miami fans on Monday night when rookie running back Ollie Gordon II limped off the field in the second quarter against the Steelers. After taking a hit behind the line of scrimmage on a third-down carry, Gordon came up hobbling and needed help from the training staff to get to the sideline. The Dolphins quickly listed him as questionable to return with an ankle injury.
At that point, Gordon had logged just two carries for zero yards-hardly the kind of impact Miami envisioned from their young back. The Steelers’ front had bottled him up early, and the Dolphins leaned on the passing game and special teams to generate offense. On the very next play after Gordon exited, kicker Riley Patterson drilled a 54-yard field goal to give Miami a 3-0 lead with just over five minutes left in the first half.
But the real story came in the fourth quarter, when Gordon made his return to the field. After spending a chunk of the game on the sideline, his reappearance was a welcome sight-not just for the Dolphins’ offense, but for a team that’s been working to establish balance down the stretch of the season. While he hadn't made a major statistical impact before the injury, Gordon’s presence alone adds another layer to Miami’s offensive versatility.
It’s still unclear how much the ankle may have affected his mobility after returning, but the fact that he was able to get back in the game speaks to his toughness and the team’s confidence in his ability to contribute. For a young back still finding his rhythm in the NFL, moments like this-getting banged up, coming back, and staying in the fight-can be pivotal in building trust with coaches and teammates.
We’ll keep an eye on how the Dolphins manage Gordon’s workload moving forward, especially with the postseason picture tightening. But for now, Miami can breathe a little easier knowing their rookie runner is back in the mix.